MARCH LONDON TUBE STRIKE: How to get about the capital on Wednesday 15 March

London Underground will strike for 24 hours on Wednesday 15 March causing demand for taxis and other modes of transport to spike.

ASLEF Tube train drivers voted by 99% in favour of strike action in a dispute over management’s failure to accept that changes to working arrangements and pensions should only happen by agreement. The RMT also voted in favour of strike action on the same day.

The strike is expected to cause ‘severe disruption’ and increase demand further for taxis.

According to Transport for London (TfL) there will be little or no service expected on the Tube network on the day of the strike. TfL are asking travellers to allow more time for their journey.

Services on 14 March will run as normal, except the last District line service to Richmond. This will leave Upminster at 23:13.

The Elizabeth line services are expected to run as normal, but will be much busier than usual and queuing systems may be in place.

Closure of Tube stations may mean some services will be unable to stop at all stations or run to their normal destination.

Buses, DLR and tram services are expected to run as normal.

RMT General Secretary, Mick Lynch, said: "Our members will never accept job losses, attacks on their pensions or changes to working conditions in order to pay for a funding cut which is the government's political decision.

"Tube workers provide an essential service to the capital, making sure the city can keep moving and work long hours in demanding roles.

"In return they deserve decent pensions, job security and good working conditions and RMT will fight and tooth nail to make sure that's what they get."

Finn Brennan, ASLEF's full-time organiser on the Underground, said: “The size of these "Yes" votes, and the large turnouts, show that our members are not prepared to put up any longer with the threats to their working conditions and pensions. We understand that TfL faces financial challenges, post-pandemic, but our members are simply not prepared to pay the price for the government’s failure to properly fund London’s public transport system.

“Cuts to safety training have already been forced through and management is open that they plan to remove all current working agreements under the guise of “modernisation” and “flexibility” and to replace the agreed attendance and discipline policies. Proposals to slash pension benefits are due to be announced in the next week.

“We are always prepared to discuss and negotiate on changes, but our members want an unequivocal commitment from TfL that management will not continue to force through detrimental changes without agreement.

“Unless they are prepared to work with us, and accept that changes have to come by agreement, and bring real benefits to staff, rather than just cuts and cost savings, this will be only the first day of action in a protracted dispute.”